Choi was born in Daegu in 1895.[clarification needed] From June 1923, he worked as an organizer of yacheika (ячейка, communist cells) in Daegu which was part of the Korburo(Корбюро,꼬르뷰로, a Korean branch of Comintern).[3] He also worked in the socialist ideological group called Sangmihoe (尙微會).[3] In 1924, he participated in the formation of sinheungcheongnyon dongmaeng, which became part of Joseonchongnyonchongdongmaeng by march of the same year.[3]